Cock or faucet.



A. C. SGHUERMANN.

COCK 0R FAUCET. APPLIOATION FILED 001126. 190s.

970,562. Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

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A. C. SCHUERMANN.

COCK 0R FAUOET.

APPLIoArIoN FILED oom. ma.

970,562. A Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

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ANTON C. SCI-IUERMANN,

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DECATUR,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE H. MUELLER 0F ILLINOIS.

COCK OR FAUCET.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application filed October 6, 1908.

Serial No. 456,430.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANTON C. SGHUER- MANN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Decatur, Macon county, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cocks or Faucets; and mypreferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in thefollowing full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claimsparticularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to water distribution, and more especially tococks and faucets having reciprocating valves; and the object of thesame is to prevent hammering or chattering of the valves which controlliquid under pressure.

To this end the invention consists essentially in a plug more or lesstightly fitting' an opening 1n a partition back of the valve chamber'and operating independently of the valve proper, and the construction ofparts whereby this plug is opened by the valve when the latter haspartly opened, is held open while the valve is completely open, and ispermitted to close by the movement of the valve when the latter hasreached a point where it is partially closed.

While it is possible to employ this invention in cocks and faucets of avariety of types, whether' upright or horizontal, I have described itbelow as used in conjunction with a cock of the Fuller type having aball valve moving in a horizontal plane, and have shown it in thatconnection in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of a Fuller bib cock with the valve completelyopen; Fig. 2 is a similar section with the valve in an intermediateposition; Fig. 8 is a similar section showing the valve com pletelyclosed; and Figs. 4 and 5 are side and end views of the plug in itspreferred form.

The cock body 1 here shown of the Fuller type comprises two members ofwhich the outer one 3 screws into the inner one 2 so as to leave a valveseat 32 at the inner end of the outer member, and the stem 5 leads fromthe usual crank or eccentric C on the handle shaft S through said member3 (within which it may have lugs 51 to guide it in its motion) andthrough the Fuller ball 6, which latter is held in place between acollar 7 on the stem and a nut 8 screwed onto the threaded extremitythereof as will be understood; and when the handle I-I is moved throughhalf a circle as shown in the first three views, the crank C draws theball from the position shown in Fig. l past that shown in Fig` 2 to thatshown in Fig. 3 where its working end is closed against the seat 32 in amanner which will be clear. Instead of these elements of a Fuller cock,it will be obvious without further illustration that the shaft S and itshandle might stand in line with the stem 5 and move the latterlongitudinally through the longitudinal movement of the shaft, orthrough its rotary movements by means of interposed mechanism such ascams or connectionsthe one point essential to the present inventionbeing that the valve 6 shall reciprocate longitudinally of the axis ofthe cock body in its opening and closing movements and shall close withthe pressure. Furthermore, instead of a cock having a horizontal axis itwill be obvious without further illustration that this invention couldbe applied to an upright cock, provided only that the valve moveslongitudinally of its axis.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention, the member 2 inrear of its valve chamber 2O has a partition 21 provided with an axialopening 22, back of which it is here shown as screw threaded as at 23for connection with the supply pipe or support not shown. I do not limitmyself to forming all parts of this member in one piece, it beingnecessary only that the rearmost portion of this member beyond thepartition 2l shall have an enlarged cylindrical plug chamber 24. Vithinsaid chamber moves a plug 10 best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, whose body llis preferably cylindrical and of a size slightly smaller than theopening 22 so that it may fit therein with some little looseness as bestseen in Fig. 3. rlhe length of this body is about that shown in thedrawings in its proportion to the depth of the plug chamber 24; but asgreater length gives greater weight, it will be obvious that when thisinvention is used on upright cocks or where the liquid pressure iscomparatively light, the length would probably be somewhat less. Thediameter of this body is less than that of its chamber, and in order tocenter it therein I employ guides which are here shown as ribs l2(preferably three or more in number) projecting radially from the bodyso as to lit loosely and slidably within the chamber and extendingparallel with its axis from a point 13 nearly but not quite coincidentwith its front end backward as far as necessary, and these ribs may beformed integral with the body if desired. At the front end of said bodyis a stud 14, here shown as an integral projection thereon, alsocylindrical although that is not necessary, but in any event smallerthan the opening 22 so as to permit the free passage of liquidtherethrough around said stud when the parts stand as seen in Fig. 1.The length of this stud is such that when the valve 6 is partiallyunseated as seen in Fig. 2, the rear end of the stem 5 will contact withthe front end of the stud.

In operation, the cock stands with the valve open as shown in Fig. 1 andthere is a free passage of water through the chamber 24, around the body11 between the ribs 12, through the opening Q2 around the stud 14, pastthe valve 6, and out through the seat 32. In closing, the parts firstassume the position shown in Fig. 2, and as the valve moves forward therear end of the stem 5 tends to move away from the front end of the stud14 and the liquid pressure against the rear end of the plug causes it tofollow the valve until the front end of its body forward of the points18 enters the opening 22 and partially closes the flow of liquidhthustending to prevent water hammer as experiments have shown. Furthermovement of the handle shaft finally carries the parts to the positionshown in Fig. 3, and during this movement the valve has been drawnforward within the valve chamber 20 until the working end of the ball 6has entered the seat 32 and reliably and completely closed the cock. Areverse movement of parts obviously lirst carries them from the positionshown in Fig. 3 to the rear, during which the valve is unseated althoughthe plug remains seated and permits only a partial flow of liquid. Whenthe parts again assume the position shown in Fig. 2, the stem 5 contactswith the stud 111; and further movement of the handle shaft then unseatsthe plug against the pressure, so that nally the parts rea-ssume theposition shown in Fig. 1 and the cock stands wide open.

As will be seen from the drawings the movements of the valve and plugare in unison only after contact has been made between them, a timesubsequent to the leaving of the valve from its seat, thereby providingmovements of unequal length to the plug and valve. By this constructionthe liquid pressure on the valve both during the opening and closingmovements is simply that of the liquid within the valve chamber.

augmented by the pressure of the liquid passing by the plug, as long asthe valve is not in contact with the plug; as soon as such Contact ishad, the movement of the valve is subject to the liquid pressure in themain pipe in rear of the plug, due to the fact that while in Contactwith the valve the plug is ,being moved from its seat and necessarilyagainst the liquid pressure in the main pipe. As soon as the plug seats,the main pressure is taken up by the plug and the valve is then relievedof the main pressure and subjected only to the reduced pressure in thevalve chamber' while the valve is being` seated, the pressure in thevalve chamber gradually increasing to the normal water pressure by thepassage of the thin film of water around the plug, which film isinsuiiicient to retain the pressure within the valve chamber while thevalve is opened but out of contact with the plug. As a result theclosing movement of the valve, after the plug has been seated, isrelatively free from pressure of the liquid, the slight pressure thatmight b-e produced by the liquid within the valve chamber beingrelatively small as compared with that of the pressure in the main pipeand which is being held in check by the plug and th-e partition whichsupports the plug while the latter is seated. And while the pressurewithin the valve chamber, after the valve has been closed a sufficientlength of time to permit equalization of the pressure in said chamber,and the main pipe, is initially that of the main pipe when the valve isbeing' opened, the movement of the valve in Aopening immediately reducesthis pressure until contact is had between the valve and plug, whereuponthe full liquid pressure of the main pipe is placed on the valve andremains thereon until the plug again seats whereupon the pressure isimmediately released and reduced and so remains until the valve has beenseated, thereby causing the valve to have its movements in proximity toits seat not subject to the pressure in the main pipe and making thesemovements of the valve much easier without eliminating the advantages ofpreventing water hammer by the use of the plug.

That is claimed as new is:

1. In a liquid shut off, the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a valve chamberbetween the seat and partition, the latter having an opening; of avalve, means for moving it longitudinally within its chamber, a plugadapted to normally seat against said partition and partially close itsopening when seated, and a stud projecting from the plug loosely throughsaid opening and adapted to be engaged by the valve after the latter hasmoved from its seat.

2. In a liquid shut off, the combination 'with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a valve chamberbetween the seat and partition, the latter having an axial opening; of avalve, means for moving it longitudinally within its chamber', a plugadapted to normally seat against said partition and partially close itsopening when seated and a stud projecting from the plug loosely throughsaid opening and adapted to be engaged by the valve after the latter'has moved from .its seat and to unseat the plug as the valve is fullyopened.

3. In a liquid sluit ott', the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body 'forming a valve chamber'between the seat and partition, the latter' having an opening; ot' avalve, means for moving it longitudinally within its chamber and closingit with the pressure, a plug adapted by pressure to normally seatagainst said partition and partially close its opening when seated, anda stud projecting from the plug loosely through said opening and adaptedto be engaged by the valve after the latter has moved from its seat.

4. In a liquid shut oil', the combination with the cock body having' avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a plug chamber atits inner end and a valve chamber between the seat and partition, thelatter having an opening; of a valve, means for moving it longitudinallywithin its chamber, a plug in the plug chamber adapted to `normally seatagainst said partition and partially close its opening when seated, anda stud projecting from the plug loosely through said opening and adaptedto be engaged by the valve after the latter has moved from its seat andto unseat the plug as the valve is fully opened.

5. In a liquid shut ott, the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a plug chamber' atits inner end and a valve chamber between the seat and partition, thelatter having an opening; of a valve; means for moving it longitudinallywithin its chamber and closing it with the pressure, a plug in the plugchamber adapted by pres sure to normally seat against said partition andpartially close its opening when seated, said plug having its seatingmovement provided solely by the liquid pressure, and a stud projectingfrom the plug loosely through said opening and adapted to be engaged bythe valve after the latter has moved from its seat.

6. In a liquid shut oil, the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a plug chamber atits inner end and a valve chamber between the seat and partition, thelatter having an axial openino" of a valve within the valve chamber, astem passing through the valve and seat, means for movingl the stemlongitudinally, a plug having a cylindrical body smaller than the plugchamber and slightly smaller' than said opening, longitudinal ribs onsaid body extending nearly to its front end and guiding it within itschamber, said :r'ibs forming a stop to limit the forward movement of theplug, and a stud projecting from said body loosely through said openingand adapted' to be engaged by the valve stem after the valve has movedfrom its seat and to unseat the plug as the valve is fully opened.

7. In a liquid shut oil', the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition aci-'oss the body forming a plug chamber atits inner end and a valve chamber between the seat and partition, thelatter having an axial opening; of a valve within the valve chamber, astem passing through the valve and seat, means yfor mov ing the stemlongitudinally, a plug having a cylindrical body smaller' than the plugchamber and slightly smaller than said opening, means for guiding thebody longitudinally and loosely within the plug chamber, said means'forming a stop to limit the forward movement ot' the plug, and a studprojecting 'rom said body loosely through said opening and adapted to beengaged by the valve stem after the valve has moved from Aits scat andto unseat the plug as the valvel is fully opened.

S. In a liquid sluit ott', the combination with the cock body having avalve seat, and a partition across the body forming a plug chamber atits inner end and a valve chamber between the seat and partition, thelatter having an axial opening; of a valvr` within the valve chamber, astem passing through the valve and seat, means tor moving the stemlongitudinally, a plug having a cylindrical body smaller than the plugchamber and slightly smaller than said opening, means independent of thevalve for limiting the forward movement of the plug, and a studprojecting from said body loosely through said opening and adapted to beengaged by the valve stem after the valve has moved Yfrom its seat andto unseat the plug as the valve is fully opened 9. In a liquid shut olf,the combination with the cock body having a valve seat, a partitionacross the body in rear of the seat 'forming a cylindrical plug chamberin rear of the partition, the latter having an opening, a valve, andmeans for moving it longitudinally and closing it with the pressure; ofa plug having a cylindrical body smaller than the plug chamber' andslightly smaller than said opening, means independent of the valve forlimiting the forward movement of the plug, and a stud projecting fromsaid body loosely through said opening' and adapted to be engaged by thevalve after the valve has moved from its seat and to unseat the plug asthe valve is fully opened. t

10. In a liquid shut olf, the combination with a cock body having avalve seat, a pai'- tition across the body in rear of the seat forming acylindrical plug chamber in rear of the partition, the latter having' anopening', a valve, and means for moving it longitudinally; of a plug'having a cylindrical body smaller than the plug' chamber and slig'htlysmaller t-han said opening', means independent of tho valve forlimit-ing the forward movement of the plug, and a reduced studprojecting from said body loosely through said opening' and adapted tobe engag'ed by the valve after the valve has moved from its seat.

11. In a liquid shut olf, the combination with a cock body having avalve seat, a pai'- tition across the body in rear of the seat forming acylindrical plug chamber in rear of the partition, the latter having' anopening', a valve, and means for moving it longitudinally; of a plug'having' a cylindrical body smaller' than the plug chamber and slightlysmaller than said opening, means for centering' the plug during' itsmovements within its chamber, said means limiting the forward movementof the plug and a reduced stud projecting from said body loosely throughsaid opening and adapted to be eng'ag'ed by the valve after the valvehas moved from its seat.

12. In a liquid shut off, the combination with a cock body having' alvalve seat, a pai'- tition across the body in rear of the seat forming acylindrical plug chamber in rear the partition, the latter having anopening,a valve, and means for moving' it longitudinally; of a plughaving' a cylindrical body smaller than the plug chamber, longitudinalribs on said body for limiting the forward movement of the plug and forguiding it within its chamber, and a reduced stud projecting' from saidbody loosely through said opening' and adapted to be engaged by thevalve after the valve has moved from its seat.

13. In a liquid shut off, the combination with a cock body having' avalve seat, a partition in rear of and spaced 'from said valve seat andforming a valve chamber, said partition having' an axial opening', of avalve movable axially of said chamber, and a normally resting' againstthe rear side of said partition and formed to partially close said axialopening when seated, said plug and Valve being' relatively positioned tohave unequal lengths of movement during the longitudinal movement of thevalve.

14.1. In a liquid shut oft, the combination.

with a cock body having' a valve seat, a pai'- tition in rear of andspaced from said valve seat and forming a valve chamber, said partitionhaving' an axial opening, of a valve movable axially normally resting'against the rear side of said partition and formed to partially closesaid axial opening when seated, said plug and valve being relativelypositioned to have unequal lengths of movement during the longitudinalmovement of the valve, the length of movement of the plug being lessthan that of the valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my signature, this 22ndday of September, A. D. 1908.

ANTON C. SCHUERMANN.

Witnesses VinoiNIA HAMILTON, JOHN L. IVADDELL.

of said chamber, and a plug'

